DIR- Generic Newbie Questions On Weight Etc

[DMVSCUBADAD]

First, wondering what I should do about weight with my new gear. I am 187lbs, 5-9, would wear 16lbs with a 3mm wetsuit and standard vest and be properly weighted. For my upcoming trip I will be using a neoprine vest, shorts, rash guard, and the Halcyon 6lb steel backplate with the 20lb wing. How much weight should I carry? I ran it through chatGPT and it said 4-6lbs.

Second, the plate, which I got used, came with back and strap pads. I was planning to remove the back pad but leave the strap pads. Any thoughts?

 

[grantmac]

Unless you have excessive bodyfat you are very likely overweighted with the vest.

 

[Chrisk919]

Regarding 5'9" in a jacket BC with a 3mm: 16lbs seems like a lot just based on your measurements. I wouldn't even use that much for a 5mm in an aluminum backplate (1lb) and I'm a bit more "dad-bod fluffier".

A 6lb backplate with a (presumably 1-3mm?) neoprene vest? You didn't talk about cylinders, but since this is a trip I'm assuming a single AL80 - 4-6lbs may be a starting point but you are most likely still overweighted.